THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
463rd Meeting
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Pita Aatami
MAKIVIK CORPORATION: SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES
Makivik Corporation, representing the Inuit of Nunavik, Northern Quebec, and headed by Pita Aatami, was created following the signing in 1975 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Mr. Aatami will focus on the mandate of Makivik, its successes and benefits, issues related to land claims, the importance to Nunavik of science and research, changes that have occurred in Nunavik over the last 60 years, and creation of an autonomous government in Nunavik. He will also reflect on challenges facing both the Inuit and their fellow Canadians related to climate change, opening of the Northwest Passage and Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.
Pita Aatami was born in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, and educated there and in Red River College, Winnipeg. He was elected President of Makivik Corporation in 1998. He is a member of the board of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, and ArcticNet and was recently appointed to the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board. In 2007 Mr. Aatami was named a Hero of the Year by Reader’s Digest and the Nunavik Research Centre of Makivik received the Gold medal of the Canadian Environment Awards. In 2008 Mr Aaatami was elected Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America for his services to Northern education and research.
The meeting will be held in the Astra Lounge on the entrance level of the RCAF Officers Mess, 158 Gloucester Street (just east of Bank Street), Ottawa. Parking is available on the street and in nearby parking lots. There is a charge of $3.00 for evening use of the parking lot in the same block as the Mess. The meeting begins at 2000 hrs and the bar will be available from 1930 hrs. As always, guests are welcome.
The current Executive and Committee of The Arctic Circle are listed in an attachment to this notice.
Next meetings:
Mar 10 Lynn Gillespie on Canadian Arctic flora
Apr 14 Hans Weber’s film of the 1953 Baffin Island Expedition
Apr 30 Annual Dinner
Thomas Frisch
Secretary
(613 725-2221)
tfrisch@sympatico.ca
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